Shattered Illusions: Love, Lies, and Redemption

Lizetta was ready to hightail it out of there with Remington and Jenny in tow.

But out of the blue, Remington grabbed Lizetta’s wrist, his voice icy as a winter lake.

“What’s the rush, Lizetta? Got a guilty conscience?”

Lizetta glared at him, her lips twisted in a mocking sneer.

“Ha, why you getting all worked up? Wishing I was knocked up so you could hustle me into an abortion clinic and get it done then and there?”

Remington’s forehead vein was doing a little dance. “You know it!”

Lizetta’s breath caught in pain, she shook off his grip. “Too bad, your hopes are dashed.”

Remington let go and takes a step back.

Lizetta felt a wave of relief, but it was short–lived when she caught him giving Cedric the side–eye.

“Fetch the doc, will you?”

Clearly, he wasn’t born yesterday and wasn’t taking her word for it.

Cedric was on it like white on rice, and the same doc who’d checked out Lizetta earlier was back at the double.

Lizetta was frozen, the chill in her veins thickening as the doctor approached.

“My wife’s got a bit of a tummy ache, could you check her out again?” Remington didn’t even wait for the docto get close before stepping up.

The guy was sly as a fox; any doc would make a beeline for the patient on hearing that.

Lizetta’s palms were sweaty, head bowed, blood running cold.

“How come your stomach’s hurting? Weren’t you fine just now? Where

seat, and I’ll take a look,” the doc urged, reaching for Jenny.

does it hurt? Don’t stand there, take a

Lizetta finally let go, stepped forward with an apologetic smile for the doc.

“Sorry for the mix–up, didn’t mean to waste your time, she’s alright.”

Jenny’s nodding along, the doc’s puzzled.

Lizetta looked over at Remington, “Satisfied, Mr. Dashiell?”

Remington’s stony–faced but seemed 90 percent convinced, gave the doc a nod.

“Sorry, it was a misunderstanding.”

Once the doc scooted off, Remington turned to Lizetta.

“Cedric will take Ms. Abbott, I’ll drive you back.”

“No need!” Lizetta’d got an edge to her voice, helping Jenny out the door.

In the elevator, not until the doors shut did she let her guard down, fear and panic flooding in.

“Liz, you okay?” Jenny was worried.

Lizetta took a deep breath, steadied herself, shook her head at Jenny.

“Thanks for that.”

“No biggie, see? Told you I can act and keep tight–lipped. But your hubby’s a looker. Who’d have thought, with looks like that, he’d be such a piece of work, ready to off his own kid.”

14:20

Lizetta was biting her lip, still hearing his icy “get rid of it echoing in her ears, treating their baby like trash.

Her face was bale, Jenny’s still gabbing away.

“Good thing you spotted your ex–colleague and were prepped. We even had the doc in on it and man, she could act! Almost had me fooled–talent’s really hidden in the most unexpected places.”

When they exited the elevator, Lizetta was back in control, carefully supporting Jenny,

They hopped in a cab and take off, Remington too got in his

Cedric’s at the wheel, couldn’t quite figure out what Remington was thinking

Not sure if Remington was happy or not about Lizetta not being pregnant, he didn’t dare make small

“Check into that Jenny.”

“Got it.”

“Back to the office.”

When Remington was back at his desk. Jenny’s background check was already on his plate

“Jenny’s married, secretly tied the knot with some B–lister, and she’s classmates with Miss Yolanda Looks like Lizetta became friends with Ms. Abbott through Yolanda.”

All the info checks out: Remington’s last shred of doubt evaporated.

But as time went on, he would regret this day, over and over. Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

He was so close to the truth, yet why didn’t he grasp it?

Ch